More than 200 immigration advocates from Wisconsin are on buses headed to Washington D.C. this morning. The riders hope to shape an immigration bill currently being drafted in Congress.
Jennifer Nava was born in the United States, but last year her brother was deported to his native Mexico after being pulled over in Milwaukee for a traffic violation. Nava says she wants Congress to pass an immigration bill that keeps families together: “I really want to fight for something, because I’m thinking maybe this is one of the biggest things I can do.”
Erica Sanchez was born in Mexico and brought to the United States as a child by her mother. She remains undocumented, but has obtained a work permit through the deferred action program the Obama administration unveiled last year. Sanchez says she’d like Congress to create a path to citizenship for young people such as herself.
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“What if I work myself through college, graduate, and still I’m unable to legally work in this country?”
With some financial help from a labor union, Sanchez, Nava and others are taking their case to Capitol Hill today, as part of a national immigration lobby day, aimed at influencing an immigration bill being negotiated in Congress. Christine Neumann-Ortiz of the group Voces de la Frontera says it’s the best chance in more than a decade to see a bill pass.
“It’s been a long journey. It’s not over yet, but there is a level of seriousness and political opportunity there hasn’t been in the past.”
While congressional negotiators report progress on some key elements of the bill, NPR reports there remain disagreements over issues like border security and visas for agricultural guest workers. It’s unclear if a bill will be introduced next week, or need more time.
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